A Day in the Life of a College Student

Colleen Leahey, Reporter

A few days ago, The Huffington Post provided its readers with a BLS pie chart that depicted the daily schedule of the average college student. Apparently, we are barely grooming, sleeping 8+ hours, and living “pretty awesome” lives.

I am definitely not challenging the awesome comment. I spent yesterday lounging on my front porch, catching some rays while doing my homework. In the words of a very drugged out 8-year-old: Is this real life?

At the same time, though, The Government’s statistics are far from true concerning the lives of my friends and I. The day I meet a student that sleeps 8.4 hours nightly, I will lock them in a room until they share all their snoozing secrets with me.

Inresponse to the pie chart, we atCollegeCandy have crafted our own breakdown of the typical weekday in the life of a college student. The statistics may be far from scientific, but being girls who are really good at college, we feel they shed a more accurate light on the average student’s day.

Breaking it Down

Sleeping – 6 hours
If I could get about six hours of sleep a night, I would be able to pat way less Benefit Boi-ing on top of the dark circles haunting my eyes. 8.4 hours would be like a dream… too bad I’m too busy not sleeping to be able to live it.

Watching Bravo Marathons – 3 hours
I discovered the Real Housewives of Atlanta as a sophomore. Soon, Bravo acted as some sort of black hole, pulling me in and never letting me see the light of day/productivity again.

Considering Working Out – 1 hour
It takes a long time and a lot of internal debate to determine whether your afternoon free time would be better spent on a treadmill or on a couch with Facebook and The Real Housewives.

Working Out – 30 minutes
Because that’s all the time you have left after brooding about it for an hour.

Work (including commute time) – 3 hours
Typically, students with jobs work more than 3 hours a day. But, since they’re not working every day, this number is more of a weekly average. Procrastination/homework time can and do overlap here, especially if you’re blessed with one of those ideal campus jobs.

Class – 3 hours
Yes, you know.. That thing we’re all here for… an education. Class should take up a good portion of a student’s day. That is, if they actually go.

Studying/Reading – 2 hours
On a good day.

Complaining About How Tired You Are – 1 hours
“I am so tired, you don’t even understand!” [Chugs Diet Coke.]

Complaining About How Stressed You Are – 1 hours
“I am so stressed, you don’t even understand!” Of course, we’d all be less stressed if we spent last time whining about it.

Eating/Drinking – 2 hoursFor some this means relaxing meals (and three trips to the fro yo machine) with friends in the cafeteria. And for others it’s pounding a few Hot Pockets before chugging beers to the beat of Ke$ha. Whatev.